You know how you pass something repeatedly and then decide you just must find the underlying story behind it? That is how I felt about ‘Negro Mountain’ in Western Maryland…I knew there had to be a story.
It turns out there are two versions – both having to do with battle, heroism ,Native Americans and a very tall black man they called “Nemesis” — it is interesting that both Negro and Nemesis are on the same page of my dictionary – and I doubt either word had much to do with who the man really was.
‘Nemesis’ is a hero in both stories…and they named the mountain in his honor. He obviously lived up to his title based upon some retributive justice he performed.
What’s in a name or a title? Is the human “being” lost and confused with what he does rather than who he is? We often get caught up in describing ourselves based less upon who we are as a person and more upon our professions, race or gender, gifts or performed tasks, heroic or not.
It’s a challenging question…try answering it without language about what you do.
Who are you?
